Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament Raises Over $20K

Maui Electric Company and Kā‘anapali Golf Courses’ 8th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament, hosted on Saturday, May 13, raised over $20,000 benefiting the Maui United Way. The annual event lured more than 2,000 attendees – including the 600 keiki, ages two to 18, who cast their fishing poles in hopes of catching the largest tilapia or “special catch of the day” at the Kā‘anapali Golf Courses Pond during this tag-and-release event.

“Thank you to our community partners, Maui Electric and Kā‘anapali Golf Courses, who coordinate and host this amazing event for our keiki,” said Kari Luna Nunokawa, Maui United Way president and chief professional officer. “We appreciate all of the love that goes into preparing and hosting this tournament that supports Maui United Way and our efforts to help those who need it the most in our community.”

This year, awards went out to the following keiki: Largest Tilapia of the Day “Tilapa-Whoppa”: Austin Nishida (959 grams) (from the Ages 13-18 Category).

Largest Tilapia by Age Category

Ages 2-5:

1st Place: Brissa Web (99 grams 8:40 a.m.)

2nd Place: Kekoa Makahanaloa-Texiera (99 grams 8:58 a.m)

3rd Place: Gauge Pacheco (43 grams)

Ages 6-12:

1st Place: Jordyn Rosete (33 grams)

2nd Place: Kamole Gilliand (29 grams)

3rd Place: Dealan Aquino (27 grams)

Ages 13-18:

1st Place: Cody-John Sakamoto (50 grams)

2nd Place: Sheldon Dudoit-Caban (38 grams)

3rd Place: Ikua Kamaka (35 grams)

Special Catch of the Day: (First non-tilapia from each weigh station)

1: Nolan Hashimura-Agmata

2: Caleb Quenga

3: Driften Aquino

4: Ramsey Hillen

More than 100 Maui Electric employees and their families dedicated over 300 volunteer hours to help organize this year’s event that benefits Maui United Way, a non-profit organization that raises and invests corporate and individual donations in 33 health and human services partner agencies and 34 programs to benefit our Maui County community.

“Our Maui Electric ‘ohana looks forward to coordinating this beloved outing that benefits such an important organization in our community,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric. “Mahalo also to our partner Ka’anapali Golf Courses for providing the beautiful setting and facilities for this event.”

Kā‘anapali Golf Courses’ PGA Head Professional Sutee Nitakorn added, “This is an amazing annual event and we are happy to continue supporting year after year – many of the families remember participating in this event when they were kids and it always brings back such fond memories for them.”